Best Sand Wedge

We created this guide to help you find the best sand wedge for your specific needs. From wedges that will help the high-handicapper break 100 to the high-performance wedges that will work with any budget, this ultimate guide will place you with the right club to propel your game.

Wedges are without a doubt the most versatile clubs in a player’s bag. Players use them for full swings off the fairway, to pitch, to chip, and to get out of the sand or thick rough. As a beginner or high handicapper, you’ll need to understand the “wedge” before you can decide which one(s) you need. best sand wedge

Contrary to most beginners logic, finding the right wedges can improve your scores more than that nice new driver. What are the best golf wedges for you? You have a unique swing, stance, grip, club speed, etc… You are different from the next golfer which means your club choice may also differ.

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make when looking to improve their overall golf game is ignoring the benefits golf wedges could add to their bag. Whether you are looking to drop your score from the 90s to the 80s, or even seeking that first magical round in the 70s, the best golfers will argue that your performance inside 100 yards will dictate your development.

Many golfers will buy a complete wedge set instead of buying singularly but it is fairly common to upgrade your sand wedge. This is because there are a range of features from loft, spread, bounce, grooves and more than improve your short game. best sand wedge

best sand wedge

Whether you’re a pro golfer, a weekend warrior, or just a regular person who’s never even considered playing golf, you’ve seen a sand wedge. In any movie where the characters play golf, someone is probably trying to recover from the green side bunker in there. Oddly enough, they’ll be the most neglected clubs in your bag.

So, why are sand wedges important, and how do you recognize the one that will suit you? We’ve compiled this best sand wedge review for easy navigation in the jungle of sand wedges. Enjoy!Research shows that around a quarter of all shots are played using a wedge so clearly they are a vital part of every golfer’s game.

They can create birdies or save pars, but can also cause problems for golfers who struggle around the greens if they are not using the right type of wedge for the shot. It is essential that the wedges you carry add to your game and assist scoring. best sand wedge

This short primer will get you up to speed and help you make an informed decision on your next wedge purchase. More importantly, however, it will allow you to irritate your golf mates with questions like “what bounce is that lob wedge,” or “what grind is that sand wedge?”

Sometimes it feels like a war with ourselves playing out of the piles of sand they rake nicely and nicely name, “bunkers”.But don’t be disheartened, even the pros screw it up every now and then. With the right club and technique, the sand will look more like a zen garden to you than the trenches of war.The good news is there’s a formula for picking the best sand wedge for bunkers.

Not every golfer needs all four types of wedges. Beginners can easily get by with a pitching wedge and sand wedges, while low-handicappers may want all four. Some golfers select a loft angle, bounce and shaft stiffness that matches their game, but doesn’t strictly fit a category. Check out these diverse, versatile and high-quality wedge options and make it one of the most considered clubs in your bag.

What is the best degree for a sand wedge?

If you use your sand wedge off the fairway and to pitch, as well as getting out of the sand, then go four degrees higher than your gap wedge, or eight degrees higher than your pitching wedge. best sand wedge

If, however, you will only use the sand wedge to get out of the sand, then go with the loftier fifty-eight degrees. Fifty-eight degrees will give you a better chance at popping the ball out of the sand, and onto the green, on the first try.

Just as with drivers, woods, and irons, major golf manufacturers put a lot of effort and technology into their wedges. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a poor performer on the shelf nowadays.

But, just as with their other clubs, today’s manufacturers make different wedges for different levels of player. Here’s a rundown on eight of this year’s best options, and who they’re most suited for:

best sand wedge

The Best Sand Wedge

What are the best golf wedges for you? You have a unique swing, stance, grip, club speed, etc… You are different from the next golfer which means your club choice may also differ. best sand wedge

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make when looking to improve their overall golf game is ignoring the benefits golf wedges could add to their bag. Whether you are looking to drop your score from the 90s to the 80s, or even seeking that first magical round in the 70s, the best golfers will argue that your performance inside 100 yards will dictate your development.

Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind Wedge

Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind Wedge

Eight clubs fit the description of a sand wedge (54–58 degree loft) in the whole range of Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind wedges, though essentially only four lofts with varying bounce angles. What makes the MD3 stand out is the progressive groove design, which basically differs from lob wedges to sand wedges, and then from sand to gap wedges and pitching wedges, being specifically adjusted to control the amount of spin you need for each type.

The ones on the sand wedges work like a charm when it comes to creating a lot of backspin needed to launch the ball high up. On a similar note, the Center of Gravity (CG) has been slightly moved up the face to give more control on the trajectory and keep it dialled in for a great sand wedge experience.

​WILSON HARMONIZED​

​WILSON HARMONIZED​

The Wilson Harmonized series of golf wedges fill the need of any amateur looking to add a solid performer to their bag. Touting an innovative sole design that increases a golfer’s options around the green, the Harmonized wedge performs admirably when faced with a shot that needs a higher loft to get over trouble.

The improved sole grind on the Harmonized wedge allows golfers the opportunity to open the face of the club for softer touch around fast greens. This option is typically found on most higher dollar wedges, but the Harmonized series offers this at a fraction of the cost.

Wilson has redesigned the blade of the Harmonized to add versatility from trouble areas such as water or sand but is flexible enough to create tremendous spin from the fairway for stop-on-a-dime performance when entering a green.

Beginning golfers love the feel of the Harmonized when making solid contact with the golf ball. The feedback of the wedge after playing them for several rounds is what makes the Wilson Harmonized one of the most popular wedges on the market today.

Wilson offers multiple degree lofts and bounce options with the Harmonized. Between stainless steel, high polish finish or the anti-glare black chrome look, amateurs have options for what will look best in their bags.

Pros

Classically designed, the Harmonized wedge is perfect for the golfer looking for high performance around the greens without creating a hole in the budget.

Designed specifically with a sole grind that allows players to open up the face for more playability with higher loft on shots.

Cons

Golfers looking for more flash and characteristics of more expensive wedges will be disappointed with the Harmonized model.

Cleveland RTX-3 CB Wedge

Cleveland RTX-3 CB Wedge

There are plenty of options for all types of wedges in the Cleveland RTX-3 CB, nine of which pertain to the loft range we’d identify as sand wedges (54, 56, and 58). If you’re looking to get that ideal wedge to save you from bunkers, then you might want to target the Full Grind (you’ll recognize it by three dots on the head towards the hosel).

The CG on the whole range has been moved slightly to the center, which allows it to decrease the vibrations and give you plenty of head stability on impact, which in turn, allows much better control on the trajectory.

The grooves on higher lofts (so, starting with sand wedges) are milled at an angle, which means they are more effective when you open the face. This will allow you more versatility in your bag, and perhaps even allow you to omit the lob wedge altogether if you go with a 46 – 52 – 58 setup.

CLEVELAND SMART SOLE 3S​

CLEVELAND SMART SOLE 3S​

One of the characteristics that weekend warriors should look for in a wedge is how the club responds when hitting the golf ball. Especially for high handicappers, so much of the short game is based upon feel around the green and confidence in executing what the course is demanding.

As your short game progresses, the wedge should become a source of faith, and for the beginner, a terrific wedge for the bag is the Cleveland Smart Sole S3 model.

One of the main issues that amateurs make when they first start playing golf is improper fundamentals when faced with tough pitch shots. For most, poor wedges only increase the difficulty and learning curve.

The Smart Sole S3 is designed for the high-handicapper who is looking to ease themselves into playing better around the greens. With Cleveland’s feel-balancing technology, more of the weight is centered behind the golf ball, enabling more accurate shots and a more forgiving club face on off-center hits.

Another feature of the S3 is that the club is designed to be played with the clubface square. Instead of having to master opening the wedge to get loft on the golf ball, something that is hard for beginners, Cleveland has created the S3 so the amateur can focus their attention on the position of their body rather than attempting a difficult shot like we see Phil Mickelson do with ease on Sundays.

Pros

​The Three Tiered Sole helps the golfer get through gnarly rough and slides through the ball for tremendous contact.

Feel-balancing technology creates a forgiving clubface for purer hits and a focus on getting the golf ball into the air.

Specially designed to help beginners get the ball out of the rough with ease and softness around the green

Cons

​Not for the lower-handicapper looking for control and shot shaping ability with their wedge play.

Cobra King Wedge

Cobra King Wedge

Starting with the grooves, we see that Cobra King pretty much conforms to the standards of the industry – lower lofts feature narrower and deeper grooves, while those on higher lofts are a bit wider and shallower. Although, both designs feature a sort of circular milled finish between the grooves, which gives them better grip and traction, which in turn does an impressive job of increasing the spin.

As far as grinds go, there are three, though only the 56 has all of them, which means you can get it with low, medium, and high bounce. In contrast, the 54 comes with medium bounce, which makes it well-suited to sweepers, whereas the 58 comes with low and medium bounce, so you can choose between the two depending on your swing.

However, the smartest course of action when picking the greatest sand wedge option from the lot seems to be to go with the 56, as it allows you the most versatility

PINEMEADOW

PINEMEADOW

Touting the largest clubface on the wedge market, the Pinemeadow series has grown a cult following through sturdy design and terrific performance. With muted steel heads, the wedges by Pinemeadow present many of the same features that other beginner wedges offer but with an affordable price tag.

The large sweet spot on the club face makes Pinemeadow wedges so desirable for the beginning golfer. As an amateur’s skills begin to sharpen, having a wedge in the bag that forgives your off-center strikes is vitally important to lowering scores.

The expanded face area of the series allows the ball to get quickly in the air from any lie. And therefore, Pinemeadow wedges are popular for beginning golfers looking to shave strokes from their scores.

With a new look, the wedge series from Pinemeadow is an attractive option for rounding out any golf bag for beginners looking to add a gap or lob wedge to their set. Offering lofts as high as the 68-degree wedge version, the Pinemeadow series provides a multitude of options for rounding out your bag.

Pros

Affordable and with reliable performance, the Pinemeadow series is terrific for beginning golfers needing a forgiving wedge with a broad club face.

The Pinemeadow wedge is perfect for trouble areas such as thick rough and tight lies due to the club’s ability to get the ball in the air quickly.

Offered in a variety of lofts, the Pinemeadow series provides the golfer reliability with durable construction that will last for many rounds.

Cons

Golfers needing more advanced features, such as increased spin, from their wedges will be wise to look elsewhere.

Mizuno S5 Wedge

Mizuno S5 Wedge

The Mizuno S5 wedge is the more forgiving cousin of the Mizuno T7, and one of the highest ranking sand wedges on the market. Having a slightly larger profile than standard, the S5 gives you that bit more striking surface between heel and toe, making it feel just a little bit easier to hit the ball when you’re chipping around the green.

There’s more of a striking surface, so you can feel more confident about hitting those “dead” shouts from greenside bunkers that spin up really quickly. Speaking of which, the new and improved grooves (of course they’re improved, every new generation will try to accomplish that) will give you good spin control, especially given the fact you’ll be getting brand new grooves. This allows you to play more aggressively out of the bunker and on the approach.

Twentyfive loft/bounce combos come in the range, 12 of which fit the description of a sand wedge, and if we added the extremes (53 and 59), we’d have as many as 15 choices for the sand.

​TOUR EDGE HOT LAUNCH

​TOUR EDGE HOT LAUNCH

​The Hot Launch model from Tour Edge is one of the most underrated wedges on the market for the golfer looking to improve from their normal mid-handicap average. With a focus on increasing spin, Tour Edge has given the Hot Launch the maximum-allowed computer milled grooves for exceptional contact with the golf ball.

With an added toe weight, the Hot Launch has an increased sweet spot maximizing your strikes even when you hit the ball off-center. The sole on the Hot Launch has been reconfigured and rounded for an easier pass through the toughest obstacles on the golf course.

Another feature that has become synonymous with the high-quality product that Tour Edge provides is the installed lighter weight shafts. In the Hot Launch, the lighter shaft helps bring the easy-to-hit clubface through impact creating dependable contact.

Offered with six different degree options, Tour Edge has covered all golfers looking to add specificity to their golf bag. Coming in either the black nickel or stainless steel, the Hot Launch looks terrific and provides quality performance without an expensive price tag.

Pros

The newly designed sole of the Hot Launch wedge features a smoothness through the golf ball that is typically associated with the most expensive wedges on the market.

Tour Edge provides milled grooves on the Hot Launch resulting in improved spin control. From the fairway, the Hot Launch model is a dynamic performer due to the upgraded grooves on the clubface.

A straight tapered shaft coupled with a tour-taper grip on all Hot Launch wedges improves feel through contact with the golf ball.

Cons

​Reliable and sturdy addition to the wedge market, for the double-digit handicapper looking to creep into single digits, the Hot Launch is a great tool.

Types of Best Sand Wedges

There are four types of wedges: pitching wedges, gap wedges sand wedges and lob wedges. Each club is simply an iron, with loft angles higher than the 9-iron. The pitching wedge (PW) has the lowest loft angle, usually in the low 50-degree range. The PW has sometimes been labeled a 10-iron or simply a wedge (W). best sand wedgeThe gap or approach wedge is the second lowest loft, in the mid-to-low 50-degree range, filling in the “gap” between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. The sand wedge (SW), with a high 50-degree range loft angle, is designed to play a ball out of a bunker and on soft ground. The lob wedge has the highest loft angle — often 60 degrees or above — of any club in the bag and is used to pop your ball precisely over a hazard and onto the green without much roll. Sand wedges typically have bigger bounce (think 10 to 16, even 18 degrees), allowing you to dig the club into the ground about an inch or two behind the ball, and launch it with enough backspin to get it out of the bunker and onto the green for an up and down.

best sand wedge

​​BUYERS GUIDE

BEGINNERS

​If you’re a beginner then chances are you aren’t familiar with terms like; bounce, loft, and/or grind or what type of swing style you have. best sand wedge

This isn’t meant to discourage you but most likely the case.

In our opinion you should start with a quality club that is inexpensive and get to practicing. Don’t make the mistake of buying expensive clubs before you know how to use them.

Once you get better and are capable of consistently contacting the ball with some distance control, then come back and we will fit you with a club that has a little more technology and can help improve your short game. For now, we recommend the Wilson or Pinemeadow golf wedges.

best sand wedge

MID & LOW HANDICAPPERS

Firstly, ​you’re good enough now to where you can ​take advantage of club technology to improve the details of your game.

In order to take advantage of club technology, we need to understand your golf style, process and conditions. This can make a noticeable impact on your score.

For example, if your swing style is that of a ‘sweeper’, then you wouldn’t want to use a club that has a grind that works against your natural swing style.

Also, if you typically play soft to moderate turf conditions, then you don’t want a club bounce that is meant for moderate to hard terrain.

Put the odds in your favor and use the club technology as it’s intended.

best sand wedge

HIGH HANDICAPPERS

Okay, you’re getting better but at times you’re still ​not as consistent with ball contact as you would like (keep practicing).

​Because you’re improving, it’s time to start taking your wedges a little more seriously. Club technology is becoming more important for improving your short game.

​Higher bounce will help prevent you from wounding the earth and keep your club face from digging into the turf. ​

On the other hand, if the course you play on is typically firm terrain and the sand is hard packed or you are a “sweeper” swinger, then you could risk blading the ball or hitting thin.

​If this sounds more like you, then choose a low bounce option (10 degree or less)​.

A lower bounce design will help your club face bite into the turf rather than bounce causing poor contact.

Wedge Basics

Loft

Loft is the angle of the clubface in relation to the shaft. The higher a club’s loft angle, the higher it will launch the ball. Not long ago standard lofts (in degrees) were – PW (48), AW (52), SW (56), and LW (60).

Nowadays, however, manufacturers have strayed from these numbers for a variety of reasons. Some produce lob wedges as lofted as sixty-four degrees.

Bounce

Bounce is the angle between the club-face and the sole of the club. A club’s bounce can help it glide through the sand, or keep it from digging into the turf. best sand wedge

Wedges with a bounce angle between 4 and 6 degrees are best for players who tend to sweep the ball. They also fare better on firmer grass and bunkers with hard sand.

Mid bounce wedges have angles between 7 and 10 degrees. They’re the most versatile option and accommodate a broader range of conditions and swing types.

Wedges with a bounce angle over 10 degrees are considered high bounce. These wedges work best in fine sand and softer fairways.

Grind

Many new wedges have another property called grind which refers to the shape of the club’s sole. Years ago, players would customize their wedges by grinding down sections of the sole – thus the term “grind.”

The modified sole allowed them to open or close the clubface without affecting its bounce property. For most golfers, finding the right wedge ranks much higher on the list than worrying about its grind.

Cavity Back

According to Cleveland Golf – eighty percent of golfers should use cavity back wedges. The cavity-back design allows manufacturers to push weight to the periphery of the head which makes the club more forgiving and provides better launch, even on mishits. best sand wedge

Blades

Blades are forged from blocks of carbon steel. They’re then shaped by machine, or by hand, and plated with chrome. Blades are also known as “muscle-backs” because they have a solid back of the club head, as opposed to a hollowed cavity back.

Low handicappers and tour pros use blade style wedges (and irons too), as they provide better control than the more forgiving cavity backs.

Pitching Wedges (PW)

The first and most common wedge is the pitching wedge. Typically with a loft between 44-48 degrees it is used primarily for full shots into greens and some longer chip shots. Most modern sets tend towards a lower lofted or stronger pitching wedge to blend in with longer-hitting iron designs, whilst also creating a need or gap for the, aptly named, gap wedge. best sand wedge

Gap Wedges (GW)

As the name suggests these wedges fill the ‘gap’ between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Occasionally referred to as an attack (AW) or utility wedge (UW), these wedges tend to carry a loft of around 50 to and 53 degrees. Largely suited to fuller shots, they are typically added to player’s bag to bridge a distance gap and offer more variety near the green for pitches that don’t involve a full swing and longer chips.

Sand Wedges (SW)

Usually in the range of 54 to 58 degrees, the sand wedge was originally designed, as the name suggests, to escape from green side bunkers thanks to the heavier and wider design of its sole. For a long time it was the go-to club for chips and bunker shots around the green, because it was the highest lofted club in a player’s bag until the lob wedge came along. best sand wedge

Lob Wedges (LW)

Lob wedges are the newest of the wedge designs. As its name suggests it has a high loft of around 60 to 64 degrees, allowing golfers to produce more height and spin with shots near the green. It tends to be used more to hit chips, flop shots and bunker shots than full shots.

Loft

The loft of a wedge is simply the angle created between the face of the wedge and an imaginary vertical line. The more loft on a wedge, the more elevation on your shot, resulting in a higher ball flight with less distance, as seen below:

Most professional carry three or four wedges, to offer variation and selection to their short games. The key in choosing a set of wedges is to make sure that there are no big gaps in loft between the lowest lofted iron in your set and the first wedge and then also between edge wedge. Try to keep the lofts gaps to around 4 degrees between each club. best sand wedge

Bounce

The ‘bounce’ of a wedge is the area of the club that hits the turf, hence ‘bounces’ the club through the surface under the ball at impact. Bounce is the group name for the elements involved in sole design: the bounce angle, sole width, leading edge, rocker and camber of a wedge.

Most discussions on bounce refer more specifically to bounce angle. The bounce angle is the angle from the leading edge to the point where the sole actually meets the ground. Whilst many people think wedges sit flat on the ground, this is not true. best sand wedge

Bounce, and specifically the bounce angle, is added to prevent a wedge from digging into sand or turf, stopping the momentum of the club through the ball.

Low Bounce Wedges

Wedges with a bounce angle of 4 to 6 degrees are considered low-bounce. Wedges with minimal bounce will be better suited to players who sweep the ball, taking a shallower divot, firmer turf conditions (i.e. links courses) and heavy, coarse sand in bunkers or bunkers with little sand.best sand wedge

Mid Bounce Wedges

Any wedge with 7 to 10 degrees of bounce is considered to be a mid-bounce wedge. It will be the most versatile option, suited to a wider range of conditions and swing types.

High Bounce Wedges

High bounce wedges have more than 10 degrees of bounce, meaning the leading edge sits higher when the sole is rested on the ground. High-bounce wedges are best suited to players who dig at impact, taking deep divots, softer conditions (i.e. parkland courses) and bunkers with deep fine sand.

Sole Grinds

As you are busy grinding away on the course, trying to save par, manufacturers are busy grinding wedges in a way to help players hit better shots. So what is a sole grind best sand wedge ?

In basic terms, the sole grind refers to the additional shaping of the sole of the wedge usually around the heel or the toe. More wedge manufacturers are now offering offer a range of sole grinds in addition to the standard wedge sole. They literally grind the soles with a machine to suit specific turf conditions or shots.

For instance a heel grind will remove material from the heel of the sole to allow the face to sit lower to the ground so it is easier to open the face at address. However sole grinds also change the bounce of the sole so it is important to receive advice from a teaching professional on the types of grinds that will suit your game.

best sand wedge

Finishes

Once a wedge has been made, it is given a finish to offer a distinct look and colour. This is purely down to personal preference and taste as different finishes will have almost identical levels of feel. However it is important to know how each finish will wear over time.

Finishes such as Chrome or Nickel will maintain their colour and appearance longer.

Unplated or raw finishes are designed to wear or rust more over time, which can improve friction and lead to improved spin. best sand wedge

Darker finishes look great initially but over time the paint will wear off on the sole and face to give some nice wear marks if you like that sort of thing.

Shafts

Virtually all wedges come with steel shafts unless the wedges are part of a graphite set of clubs.

Most steel shafted wedges also come with a standard ‘wedge’ flex. This is actually more like a stiff shafted steel shaft in flex, but designed specifically for the shorter club. It provides maximum feel and accuracy and in such a short club, the flex is less important.

What loft of wedges should I carry?

That depends on your irons. Many clubmakers nowadays strengthen lofts to give players more distance.

Ideally, you’ll want lofts spaced four to five degrees apart.

If you add a lob wedge, opt for the sixty-degree. The sixty-four-degree wedge can be extremely difficult to hit, without a lot of practice.

What is the Best Sand Wedge for Beginners

If you only carry one wedge, you should have a sand wedge.

A good sand wedge will save you strokes every time your ball lands in one of those big sandy craters, with incredibly magnetic powers, that seem to cover about ninety percent of the course best sand wedge.

Of all the sand wedges looked at today, the Cleveland Smart Sole 3.0 will save you from the dreaded snowman, more times than not.

best sand wedge

How Many Wedges Should a Beginner or High Handicapper Carry?

Why not carry them all?

Tournament golfers have a 14 club limit, but you can and should carry whatever helps your game.

You probably already have a pitching wedge that came with the set. If you don’t have a gap wedge, try to get one in the same model as the clubs you’re now playing. This will give you consistency and fill the distance “gap” that this wedge was designed for. best sand wedge

Everyone needs a sand wedge. No other club does what it does out of the sand or around the green. The sand wedge is also the club that most players use to pitch the ball.

Many players, especially beginners and high handicappers, shun the lob wedge. It can be challenging to master and requires a good hack to make the ball go anywhere.

But, nothing beats a lob wedge to get out of, or over, a steep bunker, or getting the ball to stop on a slick green.

​CONCLUSION

​When choosing a wedge, always know precisely the reason for adding it to your bag.

Perhaps you are having trouble getting out of the sand and difficult rough, so you look for a wedge like the Cleveland Smart Sole 3S with its distinct design in helping golfers looking for an advantage in their super game-improvement iron sets. best sand wedge

For more advanced golfers needing high-performance features, such as increased spin, can look to wedges designed for the low handicapper like the Mizuno S18.

Regardless of the need, finding the right wedge is crucial to lowering scores and creating more enjoyment for yourself with the great game of golf. best sand wedge

And the Winner is…

Going back to the original question, however, who makes the best wedges for high handicappers in 2018?

The cavity-backed design, together with Cleveland’s “Feel Balancing Technology,” makes them feel and forgive like a game improvement iron. best sand wedge

They play well off the fairway, out of the sand, and everywhere in between. Feel, forgiveness, and playability make the Cleveland CBX this year’s best wedge for high handicappers, mid handicappers, and beginners as well best sand wedge .